Chinese idioms
Play the lute to a cow (address the wrong audience; go over someone's head).
对牛弹琴
(duìniú tánqín)
A: I really like those abstract paintings we saw yesterday. What do you think?
我真的很喜欢我们昨天看到的抽象画。你觉得呢?
(wǒ zhēnde hěn xǐhuan wǒmen zuótiān kàndào de chōuxiànɡhuà. nǐ juéde ne?)
B: I haven't acquired a taste yet for abstract art.
我看抽象画,就是对牛弹琴。
(wǒ kàn chōuxiànɡhuà, jiùshì duìniú tánqín.)
A: Don't worry, you can learn.
不用担心,可以学的。
(bùyònɡ dānxīn, kěyǐ xué de.)
B: It's going to take my whole lifetime.
那要花费我一生的时间。
(nà yào huāfèi wǒ yìshēnɡ de shíjiān.)